A new study by scientists from Finland and the UK has revealed surprising evidence suggesting that heart attacks might be triggered by infectious processes. This challenges the commonly held belief that heart issues are mainly caused by cholesterol and lifestyle choices.
Researchers found hidden bacterial biofilms within arterial plaques that can lie dormant for decades, evading the body’s immune system. These bacteria can suddenly become active due to a viral infection or another external trigger. Once they wake up, they cause inflammation and can lead to the rupture of arterial plaques, which ultimately results in heart attacks.
Professor Pekka Karhunen, who led the study, explained that while it has long been suspected that bacteria play a role in coronary artery disease, direct proof was previously lacking. His research discovered genetic material from various oral bacteria inside artery plaques. The study showed that when the bacteria became active, they caused inflammation, which could break apart cholesterol-filled plaques.
The findings offer hope for new ways to diagnose and treat heart attacks. It also raises the possibility of developing vaccines to help prevent coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
This research project involved collaboration among Tampere and Oulu Universities, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the University of Oxford. It forms part of a larger EU-funded cardiovascular research initiative involving 11 countries.
The study utilized tissue samples from individuals who had died from sudden cardiac death and patients undergoing surgery for atherosclerosis. Such findings could change how medical professionals approach heart disease in the future.
-Rashmi Kumari
